Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-04


/ ~. She began to cry weakly "Oh. Della
you poor child, what will you do = she sob
bed.
1T isn't going to do any good to go ON
There's all them folks out there Oh
dear What will they say | wouldn't
| care 80 much if it want for all them Thay
ers an Caldwells They'll jest crow. oh
dear you poor child ~
Della turned to Mr.. Thayer. Somebody
ought to tell them, said she that there
won't be any-wedding
"Oh, Della, how can you take it so calm y
walled her mother.
/ IL suppose 50, assented the old man :
but declare ] cant tell em such thing
| about a son of mine. | feel as il I'd been
through about all ! could
"lhe minister would be Il good one,
| wouldn't be T. said Della
Mr. Thayer took up with the suggestion
| eagerly. He opened the door u chink, and
asked one Of the waiting officious guests to
summon the minister. When he came he
| gave him instructions IN an agitated wins
per then reiterated The trio in the bed
room became conscious of a great hush
| without then the minister's sOlemnly i'll
/ Elected voice broke upon il. He was telling
| them that the wedding was postponed
/ Then there was a little responsive murinur,
and the minister knocked on the door
Shall tell them when it will take place
they are inquiring he whispered
Della heard him. You can tell them it
will never take place, said she, in a clear
voice
The minister stared at her wonderingly
| ooh N groaned her mother Then the
ministers voice rose again, and directly
there were a creaking and rustling and sub
dued clatter Of voices The guests were
departing.
After little, Della approached the door
aS if she We're going out into the parlor
"Oh, Della, don't 20 wait till they've all
gone ~ walled her mother "All them
Thayers an Caldwells -
They are gone, most Of them. I've
stood in this hot little room long enough &c
said Della, and threw open the door. hi
fcctly opposite was "A mahogany table with
the wedding presents on it, Three or four
women, among them Mrs Erastus Thayer
and her daughter, we're bending over them
and whispering.
When the door opened they turned and
stared at Della standing there in her pearl
colured silk, with some dropping white bri
dial flowers on her breast. They looked stiff
and embarrassed Then Mr., Thayer re
covered herself and came forward
Della, said she, in a soft whisper, dear
girl 20
She put her arm around Della and at
tempted to draw her toward herself but
the girl released herself. and gave her II
slight backward push
Please don't make any fuss over me-
Mrs. Thayer. said she 1t isn't necessary "
Mrs Thayer started back. and went
/ ba i fs.. 4
She tried 10 smile Her daughter and the
other women followed her
Ask her why he didn't come. " one of
the women whispered, nudging her
I'm kind of afraid TO- III stop and ask
Hiram ON my way home mebbe Mr. Thay
er told him 80
Della, in her bridal gear stood majestic
ally beside one uf the parlor windows She
was plainly waiting for her guests to 20
| They kept pcering in at her, while they
whispered among themselves Presently
Mrs. 1hayers daughter came acrus, the
room tremhlngly She kept looking back
as she advanced toward Della
Mother wants to know, she fultered. in
her thin girlish pipe, 'if-you wouldn't
rather-she'd take back that toilette set she
brought. She says she don't know but it
will make you feel bad 10 see it
VI course You can take IL
Mrs. Emmuns says she'll take her mats
too, if you'd like 10 have her"
'Of course she can take them
The young girl shrank over to the table.
snatched up the toilette sets and mats, and
fled to her mother.
When they were all gone, David Thayer
approached Della. He had been sitting ON
a chair by the bedroom door. holding his
head in his hands
I'm goin' now, said he If there's
ANYTHING ! can do, you let me know"
There won't be anything, said Della
Il shall get all right
He shook her hand hard in his old trem-
bling one. You're more of IA man than
Lawrence is, - said he He was a very old
man, and his voice, although it was still
deep quavered
There isn't any use in your saving much
to him, said Della. II don't want YOU TO-
on my account
Della, don't you 20 to standing up for
him. He don't deserve it,
Il amt standing up for him | know
he's your son, but it doesn't seem to me
there great deal to stand up for What
he's done is natural enough hes been car
RED away by pretty fact hut he has
shown out what he is &c
Della
Il don't see any other ,,av Ia feel. IN.
the truth"
well, good-by, Della. hope YOU won't
Law up ANYTHING ag'in his mother an me.
Wen ALWAYS think n ,,ood dsal nf Won -
II haven't any reason 10 lay up anything
against yam that | kno,v ~ s.id DaGn
Her manner was stern. although She did
not mean it To be She could not n, il
We're. relax her muscles enough 10 b. cor
dial. All the strength in Della CaldwelIs
nature was now concentrated II conld
accomplish great things Inf il MIGHT ,,rinJ
little ones to pieces.
"Wel. pood-bv DeHa - said the ol1 man
piteousiy. He was himself a strong char,
acter. but he seemed weak beside her
After he had gone. Della went into the
bedroom tn her mother Mrs Caldwell
was sitting there CRYING She Iooked m
when her daughter entered
"Oh. Della. she sobbed ..wbat are Won
goin' to do what are Won COIN To do -
Il am going To take of this dress for on.
thing"
Il don't see what Won will do There
vuve GOT this dress and ynrr biack hi,
two new silk dresses md vou, new Lro,,n
wooden one. and vour newbonnet and man
tie. all these new things and the wadJin'
cake"
Il smpose can weor dresses and hon
nets as well if nin't married and as for
the weddiu,, caka ,va1l have same If II fo,
supper"
"DeEa CALDWELL"
,Whnt * the motter moth.r ="
Della slipped off the lone sbiumer;nr,
skirt of her pearl-colored siik shook II ont
and laid il carefully over a chair
Are Won crazy y
Not that know of Why -
lyon don't net notnr,l -
I'm acting the wa, that natural IN ma 9,
"Wbat are Won ,roin,r IN do on van
moor cbild -